SHORTAGE OF SPACE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 26 June 1940, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF SPACE

NELSON FREEZING WORKS DIRECTOR ADDRESSES TAKAKA ! FARMERS’ UNION KEEN INTEREST IN GOLDEN BAY DISTRICT More than customary interest was] taken in the monthly meeting of the ; committee of the Takaka branch o ? the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on; Monday evening when an important! statement covering the operations of j the Nelson Freezing Company during { the past year, with particular refer- ; ence to the shortage of storage space.! was made by Mr Harold Sparrow, a 1 member of the directorate. Mr Bernard Woods, chairman of the branch, briefly introduced Mr Sparrow and explained some of the difficulties confronting farmers in their efforts to market their stock to the best advantage. Mr Sparrow said he proposed to deal with some of the problems which had arisen last year and to explain as far as possible reasons for the hold up in the stock to tfie works. “The season has not been a good one as far as the district is concerned.” said the speaker. “We started operations in respect to killing early lambs on 25th November and by the tnd of December 1 we were fairly low down in the tally, i The chief cause of this was the delay I in the mating season, due to variousj reasons, and, as a consequence, early j lambs were a month late in making their appearance. This, in turn, caused more or less of a rush on the works at that stage, accentuated by heavy killings of sheep. By the end of January, with a lull at intervals, we were still down but by the end of February killings .were about normal. In March there were again heavy killings of mutton which began to tell against the later lambs At the end of April, the company still had a shortage of lambs, though sheep were up in numbers. Then the lambs from Murchison—always later than others—began to arrive in truck loads. For many there was no room in the works and the next best thing to do under the circumstances was to request that they be kept at home.” DIRECTORS FULLY ALIVE TO POSITION Continuing Mr Sparrow quoted figures from a confidential statement showing a comparative record of killings at the Freezing Works upon which he based the company’s reason for the hold up of stock owing to shortage of space. He concluded his address in chief by stating that the directors were fully alive to the position and had a scheme in hand to increase the killing space and storage accommodation. QUESTIONS ANSWERED

In reply to a question. Mr Sparrow said there was a greater congestion of space last year than at any other period he knew of. As far as the killing of cattle was concerned, a statement had been made that a small line of 45 head had been taken into the works prior to others because they had been booked two months previously; but this was not true

In reply to further questions, with which the director was bombarded. Mr Sparrow said he agreed that provision should be made for regular drafts of cull bulls and cows He thought the works would be open for pigs and cattle next month.

No preference, he said, had been shown to Murchison or the Rai over the remainder of the district; and nothing, so far as he knew, could be done in respect to the competition between the Picton and Nelson Freezing Works. “Although we lest their calves, the Murchison farmers have been more th»*> ever loyal with their lambs,” said Mr Sparrow, who proceeded to deal with other aspects of additional points raised Mr O. C. Wilkinson (Motueka) wished to know whether or not the works would be prepared to place before shareholders at the annual meeting a balance Sheet showing the profit on pigs purchased Mr Sparrow: T don't know whether they made any profit. 20 per cent, of the pigs handled at the works are P.M.A. pigs. The handling of pigs is part of the business Mr O. C. Wilkinson: Not at a loss and simply for the sake of competing with the P.M.A.—at a loss. I would not be surprised, to the shareholders of the freezing works. . , H - D - Symes said the P.M.A. had lifted the price and the association had made remarkable progress. Mr G. A. Harwood said the Freezing Company represented, the farmers, whilst the P.M.A. was a private conVoices: Not on your sweet life! “AN AXE TO GRIND”

“I have one axe to grind and I am going to grind it here,” said Mr E. H. Nees, amidst laughter. He complained that the Nelson Freezing Works would not do anything unless it was pushed into it; and when they did, he added, they were pushed into it by the Picton Works. Personally, he had received his first bonus from the Picton Works of id about two months ago and at the week-end another id on lambs and wethers. This was in accordance with a promise made. What had Nelson done? Since the P.M.A. came on the scene the farmer was getting as good a price for his pigs as from any other concern. It was only competition from outside works that had or would bring Nelson up to scratch. Mr Nees expressed himself strongly against a system of zoning (mentioned earlier in the evening), unless the works were run on purely co-operative iines in the interests of all the farmers. Mr Sparrow, in reply to another member, said that a scheme was in hand to improve unloading facilities for bobby calves. He also asked for an expression of opinion on the subject of adequate space being provided at the works for killing cattle all the year round. Mr G. A. Harwood: It is obvious that the Nelson works are not big enough at the present time. Mr Sparrow; Will the farmers give us their support if we provide the extra facilities? Mr P. V. Langford expressed appreciation of Mr Sparrow’s remarks and moved that he be supported in his representations for incx*eased space at the Nelson Freezing Company's works. This was seconded by Mr G. A. Harwc od. Mr W. J. Newport urged that a deputation be appointed from .'he Liar.eh to interview the directors ana bnr.k up Mr Scm row’s representations. Mr O. C. Wilkinson thought the deputation should embrace the whole area and not part of it. The Murchison district, for instance, from which he had just returned, was tremendously interested in the question of extra space at the works. “I think all present have a great deal of sympathy with the Nel- 1 son Freezing Company because their j space is limited; but I support Mr Nees 1 when he declares that that Company! will not do anything until they are pushed into it,” he added. j Mr Sparrow said he would have great i pleasure in introducing and supporting j any deputation on the lines suggested, j BEST PRICE WANTED Mr Nees said he hoped they would! not be bound to send their stock to the Nelson works, especially if they would ] not give a price, say, equivalent at least i to the Picton works. “I like to send : my stock to works that will return the best price,” he added. A voice: There is at least a moral'

obligation to support the Nelson works. Referring to transportation of stock, one member declared that a bull would lose one cwt of beef, if driven overland to the Nelson works, whereas in transport by boat nothing would be lost. The proposition was carried, after the mover and seconder (Messrs Langford and Harwood) had agreed to an addition that other branches of the! Farmers’ Union be invited to send delegates to co-operate with Takaka in its { representations to the Nelson Freezing i Company. On the motion of Messrs Newport i and Woods (the chairman) Mr K. W. i Baird was appointed delegate from the ! Takaka branch. Mr Sparrow then asked for an opinion on the question of zoning. Mr K. W. Baird: I think we would be in favour of zoning, provided there is a universal price. Mr E. H. Nees spoke on similar lines. Mr T. H. D. Symes: I think it is | clearly shown by the tenor of the ; meeting that farmers will not send j their stock elsewhere, provided they , get the price from Nelson. A vote of thanks to Mr Sparrow for his attendance was carried by acclamation on the motion of Mr P. R. Reilly. The mover added that, as a director. Mr Sparrow had given ample evidence of his interest in the farmers’ welfare. Mr Sparrow briefly returned thanks.